Category: News

Please join us at our November meeting to hear D’Aungillique Jackson, Fresno State Graduate, Bulldog Pride Fund Scholar, and first LGBTQIA+ Student Body President. Earlier this year she was invited to The 2nd Pride Reception at The White House by Vice President Kamala Harris. D’Aungillique also led the Black Lives Matter Protest in Fresno in 2020, one of the city’s largest and most peaceful demonstrations; she was the youngest member of Fresno’s Commission on Police Reform; and she was President of the Fresno State chapter of the NAACP.

Meeting Agenda and other documents:

As a recent Fresno State graduate, D’Aungillique earned her B.A. in Sociology in the Fall of 2022. She is a people activator and mobilizer. Though she is not native to Fresno, D’Aungillique’s lived experiences as a Black American woman, a military kid, and an LGBTQIA+ youth have ignited within her a passion to advocate for equity and transformative justice wherever she goes.

Her most recent accomplishments include being an invited guest of Vice President Kamala
Harris at her “2023 Pride Reception” for esteemed LGBTQ+ organizers, becoming a member of
the Central Valley’s “40 under 40” Class of 2023, serving as the 2021-2022 Fresno State
Student Body President, Becoming a Bulldog Pride Fund Scholar (2021 – 2022), receiving the
2020 John D. Welty Award for Community Excellence in Community Service, serving as Faith in
the Valley’s Community Justice Fellow, serving as the youngest commissioner on Fresno’s
Commission for Police Reform, and leading Fresno’s largest, most peaceful protest—the city of
Fresno’s Black Lives Matter protest on May 31st, 2020. Above all, D’Aungillique Jackson is most
proud to be a recharting member of the Fresno State NAACP college chapter, the 2019-2021
Chapter President, and the current campus advisor for this organization.

Members of our club attended the annual Eleanor Roosevelt Birthday Luncheon organized by the Historic Fresno County Democratic Women’s Club. Honorees at this event were three women in our community that have made significant change for our community, impacted politics, and have been leaders over several decades.

• Hon. Dezie Woods-Jones, BWOPA Founder & State President
• Hon. Cynthia A. Sterling, BWOPA Fresno/SJV President
• Marsha Conant, NWPC Fresno President

FCDWC President Carole Laval welcomed everyone to the event and acknowledged the many elected leaders in the audience as well as candidates who are actively running campaigns. There were many sponsors attending and several other Democratic clubs represented in the audience.

This year’s theme was “It’s Up To The Women”, honoring women who lead.

The Keynote speaker was Susannah Delano, Executive Director of Close The Gap California, a statewide campaign that seeks to close the gender gap in the California Legislature. She gave a great talk on what her organization does, what they’ve accomplished, and what the future looks like.

M.C. Sandra Garcia, Sr. District Representative for Congressman Jim Costa, introduced each of the honorees as they were presented with their awards and addressed the audience.

The event closed with a surprise appearance by Congressman Jim Costa who gave the event a thoughtful closing speech and personally congratulated all three honorees and posed for pictures.

Marsha Conant, the final honoree, is also our own Vice President of Fresno Stonewall Democrats!

Congratulations to all three honorees! We wish all of you all the best.

If you were at last week’s meeting you know we had a couple of great speakers and several announcements and sponsorship decisions to make on upcoming events. We called to order a little late to allow the restaurant server to take our dinner orders and avoid interruptions during our agenda.

We had over 15 attendees in person at Los Amigos Restaurant and several connected on Zoom. Also in the room we had Matthew Gillian, candidate for City Council, and SCCCD Trustee Magdelana Gomez.

Minutes were not available due to a technical issue and will be available at the next meeting.

Monte reported for the Treasurer’s Report that we have $3,335.52 in our checking account.

Vice President Marsha Conant gave a report on recent and upcoming events.

Terry Stasio explained the proposed bylaws that were included on the agenda for consideration. Motions were made and seconded for both items and passed by majority vote of members present, including members on Zoom. In summary, the three bylaws that called for a 30 day notice or waiting period have been changed to 28 days; the second item added that in special elections where there was only one democratic candidate the club could endorse that candidate without having to announce an endorsement meeting.

Another call for nominations of a new treasurer was made but there were no interested members at this time. If you know someone that would be willing to step up for this volunteer position please refer them to us via email or ask them to attend our October meeting.

Volunteers are needed to work the Fresno County Democratic Party’s table at the Big Fresno Fair this October 4th through the 15th! Click here for more information or click here to sign up for a shift and get a free ticket to the fair: https://www.mobilize.us/fresnocountydemocraticparty/event/579710/

Member Cathy Brass spoke about the Democratic Headquarters and the financial challenges it’s facing. Donations and volunteers to run the office are urgently needed to keep things going. One-time or recurring monthly donations can be made here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/fresnodemocrats.

Gender Euphoria is coming up on September 23 (THIS Saturday) at 6:00 pm at Fresno City College in the Old Admin Building. This dinner and talent night is a fundraiser hosted by Trans-E-Motion. Tickets are $35 for individuals and $250 (plus Eventbrite fees) for a table of 10. FSD voted to sponsor a table of 10 and started a signup list of attendees at this meeting to fill those seats. If you’re interested in joining us please contact Terry to see if there are any more seats available at the club’s table. Click here for flyer. You can purchase individual tickets or donate to the organization here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gender-euphoria-2023-tickets-686981569367

Rainbow Wonderland Garden Party at Gazebo Gardens is coming up on October 15 at 6:00 pm. Proceeds benefit the LGBTQ2+ Studies Endowed Scholarship Fund. The club also voted to be a sponsor of this event at the $250 “Pride Blue” level. This includes four seats at the event and sponsorship recognition in media and the program. Click here to purchase your own tickets ($30) or see the flyer: page 1 page 2

Trunk Or Treat is an annual event for the whole family, hosted by Fresno Rainbow Pride, a project of Community Link. There will be treats, a game area, prizes, vendors, and more. Last year’s event was very well attended and is a family event that everyone can come to. It will be held at 1444 C Street in Fresno on October 15 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm.  Click here for the flyer.

Special Guest Speaker: Marsha introduced our Special Guest Speaker Evan Minton who is a candidate for Assembly District 6. A bio was included in our previous meeting announcement and you can click here to access a copy of it. See Evan’s website for additional information about his accomplishments and campaign information.

Visiting Candidate: Terry introduced Matthew Gillian, candidate for City Council District 2. Matthew spoke about the non-profit organization Inspiration Transportation he founded and how it helped and inspired him to move forward with his campaign. A new website for his campaign in is development. You can contact him by email at matt@gillianforfresno.com. Mr. Gillian has also completed our club questionnaire and is asking to be considered for endorsement.

Live Auction: Cathy Brass also brought a cute vase with a small cactus / succulent and there was fierce bidding that went on between a few members, even one on Zoom, until we arrived at the winning bid of $110. All money will go to support office expenses of the Fresno County Democratic Party.

Our next meeting will be October 10th when we will have IDC Fresno‘s Empress I & IV Jesse Villalobos! Please attend this special meeting to hear about Jesse’s live and his involvement in starting a Court chapter here in Fresno.